October 30, 2010

Would you know of some one who would be happy to rent out a portion of their house or property for an organisation that promotes trees?

Rent it out for a nominal amount.

If you do, then Shobha Menon will be extremely happy with the news.

Shobha lives in Kotturpuram and manages ‘Nizhal’. What began as a personal endeavour has now evolved into a Trust which is involved in a host of projects in our city.

Projects that focus on trees.

Protecting trees. Growing more of them. Increasing tree cover. Sensitising people to them and their importance.

Nizhal’s work has been recognised. The Mayor of our city has appreciated its record and service and one of the major projects that the Chennai Corporation has encouraged this NGO to do is to work closely on the greening of the Adyar bank in the Kotturpuram area.

Their Tree Walks invite people to walk through their neighbourhood, get to know avenue trees and the species better and helpcare for them.

This week, Shobha called me because she feels comfortable bouncing ideas on me.

How could Nizhal get a nice space in the city which could be the venue for a permanent exhibition and study centre on trees?

I suggested three options.

One, convince the Mayor to build a space on the banks of the Adyar in the vast expanse that is being greened now. If the city Corporation can promote gyms, study centres, badminton courts and libraries, it can also develop space for the environment.

Two, explore a collaboration with another voluntary organisation, the Rain Centre which is based in Mandaveli and promotes rain water harvesting. This NGO works out of a independent house and it could consider building further to accommodate Nizhal.

There is a third option. Appeal to the community to provide space on rent that a NGO can afford.

October 23, 2010

How do we go about organising an event that must design the biggest kolam on a mada veedhi?

It is that time of the year when I put on another of my caps. That of the director of the annual Mylapore Festival.

The 2011 edition of this Fest, now known in many parts of the world will be from January 6 to 9 on the eve of the Pongal festival.

As we sat down to jot down all the ideas that came by, one was of creating a huge kolam in which everybody who attends the fest on that evening participates.

I will wait for your suggestions.

Yes, we will have the Kolam Contests which are our flagship events. On two days, in the evenings providing space for 125 people each evening.

Here, you may want to share another idea.

For the 2010 contests, we made a departure from the past. We asked the participants to design a kolam on a grid of 24 dots. There were a few apprehensions but when the contest was over, the variety of designs were simply fantastic.

So what is the challenge we could pose to contestants next January?

Your suggestions are welcome.

This is a Festival that uses public and private space even as we remain sensitive to the immediate facilities that are important to residents and businesses.

Hence, challenges confront us each year. With them come suggestions - from well-wishers, patrons and people.

So we are moving the series of talks that we have, talks on themes related to Mylapore to a Mylapore house. The idea came from people who said that since a small number attend such events a more cosy space would enhance the experience.

We are also making sure we have T-shirts for kids. Young parents were disappointed as were their children. They will not be in January 2011.

October 16, 2010

This is a story I love to retell every time I run writing workshops for children,

It happened during one of our annual summer workshops.

One of the assignments that school students are pushed to do is to go out at short notice, choose a point of observation and take in the details.

Raghav was the fun one in that particular batch. He was itching for action.

So, on one sunny morning when the group reassembled in the hall after the 20 minute assignment, a titter ran through the group. Some tried hard to suppress a laugh. Others giggled. And I could only roll my eyes.

Minutes later Raghav doubled in and everybody burst out laughing.

Well, Raghav had taken his assignment rather seriously that morning. He had decided to check out the ‘wine shop’ which was around the corner at that prominent and busy junction. At first, he stood on the pavement and took in the scene. Then he stepped in and began to ask the salesboys a few questions.

When they realised that Raghav wasn’t going to buy liquor and was proving to be a pest, they threw him out. Watching all this happen were the other members of the group.

I did not hear from Raghav after he finished the course.

But that incident is a nice anecdote to use while training children in journalism.

Every year, at this time we invite school students who wish to get a feel of journalism and want to tap their writing skills to work alongside us on our newspapers.

This is a Childrens’ Day special that we offer this young community.

We spend a couple of hours briefing them and then guide them on their assignments.

All the reports that deserve to be published get into print in November. And the stories go with bylines, the only reward we can offer children.

Over the decade, a few have gone on to graduate in media and become media professionals. Few stick to journalism.

So if there are children out there who wish to sign up, please do so rightaway. This is not a fun assignment. And I will not ask you to visit a wine shop. But if you are game to jump on to a catamaran off Elliots Beach to spot a dolphin and write on this experience, sign up.

October 09, 2010

There is a lot we can do about the core of Mylapore.
And when Navarathri unfolds, I go into a tizzy!
It is the time when an idea keeps running through my mind like a crazy worm.
Why don’t we declare the three mada veedhis and their sister lanes WALK ONLY zones?
These veedhis come alive at festival time.
They turn into a fascinating space.
Dolls, flowers, beads, bangles, handicrafts . . .these and more bring alive these veedhis and create a throbbing life that is core to this city.
But madness rules the streets.
Everybody who drives to this place in a car wants to honk, honk and honk to find a parking space.
Every car driver wants to head straight to the destination that is important to him and his family.
Is this not the time to leave our cars and bikes some place away and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the veedhis?
There is a lot we can do about the core of Mylapore.
And when Navarathri unfolds, I go into a tizzy!
It is the time when an idea keeps running through my mind like a crazy worm.
Why don’t we declare the three mada veedhis and their sister lanes WALK ONLY zones?
These veedhis come alive at festival time.
They turn into a fascinating space.
Dolls, flowers, beads, bangles, handicrafts . . .these and more bring alive these veedhis and create a throbbing life that is core to this city.
But madness rules the streets.
Everybody who drives to this place in a car wants to honk, honk and honk to find a parking space.
Every car driver wants to head straight to the destination that is important to him and his family.
Is this not the time to leave our cars and bikes some place away and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the veedhis?

This is a heritage precinct and it must be accorded Grade A status by the city’s planning authority.

And we must get the Mayor and the Head of the Chennai City Traffic Police to support creative ideas that preserve the status of this zone. ( We have a Mayor who now wants to offer cycles on hire to visitors at Marina Beach. So I am sure he will nod for a ‘WALK ONLY’ zone even if it is operative for a few hours every day)

Yes, we also need to have all the residents and businessmen and shop keepers of the zone to sit together and agree to a ‘midway’ solution. Yes, we do want customers to flood the local showrooms but can we ask them not to drive their cars into the dolls set up by a poor hawker from Kosapet?

Yes, it is still warm and sticky but can we coax ourselves to enjoy a nice walk down the veedhis?

And we must get the Mayor and the Head of the Chennai City Traffic Police to support creative ideas that preserve the status of this zone. ( We have a Mayor who now wants to offer cycles on hire to visitors at Marina Beach. So I am sure he will nod for a ‘WALK ONLY’ zone even if it is operative for a few hours every day)

Yes, we also need to have all the residents and businessmen and shop keepers of the zone to sit together and agree to a ‘midway’ solution. Yes, we do want customers to flood the local showrooms but can we ask them not to drive their cars into the dolls set up by a poor hawker from Kosapet?

Yes, it is still warm and sticky but can we coax ourselves to enjoy a nice walk down the veedhis?

October 02, 2010

A hotel, a film academy, a school and a group of residents in the Arcot Road neighbourhood are attempting to do something that has not been done before.

To curate and present a bunch of events, once every month which will make this a ‘happening’ neighbourhood.

The Arcot Road area is quite a dull and drab place, especially for people who would like to enjoy a short and light event on a weekend evening.

There are discourses, bhajans and concerts. Nothing more.

Some residents may head to the Café Day coffee shop on the third floor of the Mega Mart store in Alwarthirunagar and gossip, others may head to the Durant Bar at Hotel Green Park and some others may head to Saravana Bhavan or Vasantha Veedu to enjoy a long dinner.

It is against this background that the neighbourhood group is coming together to launch a concept under the banner of ‘Namma Arcot Road’.

The group intends to host a variety of events - talks by interesting speakers, workshops for kids, shows by young musicians, heritage walks in the local area, screen docu-films and do whatever else they can handle with five pairs of hands.

The strong response to a package of events for kids and talks for adults at a local hotel motivated this group.

Their first efforts bore fruit.

They got people who are willing to provide their spaces to hold the events. They have people who are willing to give talks and hold events. And they also got people who promised much and then slipped away!

About Me

I have been a journalist since 1980. (Studied at St. Anthony's, Egmore - 1965 - '77 - and at Loyola, Madras - 1977 - '81)
I reported for The Week magazine of the Malayala Manorama and was a stringer for BBC Radio.
I have been involved in the launch/ editorial and management of many Chennai-based, free-circulation, English community newspapers - Anna Nagar Times, Adyar Times, Mylapore Times and Arcot Road Times.
Today, I edit and publish Mylapore Times.
I also promoted KutcheriBuzz.com, a web site for classical music and dance.
I am also the promoter of two other major events in Madras - the Mylapore Festival held in Mylapore on Pongal eve and the Madras Day celebrations held to celebrate the founding of this south Indian city.
When I find time, I also teach journalism and write.